United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MIAMI – A south Florida defendant pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a synthetic opioid, protonitazene.

Will Catis, Sr. (Catis), 42, of Deerfield Beach, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal.  According to the agreed upon factual proffer, on April 12, 2022, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator issued a temporary order to schedule seven synthetic benzimidazole-opioid substances, including protonitazene, in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Protonitazene is a synthetic opioid that is equally as potent, if not more potent, than fentanyl. As part of an investigation into Chinese chemical companies that were sending synthetic opioids, such as protonitazene, to the U.S. and Mexico, several U.S. based drug traffickers were identified. One of those individuals was Catis. Catis was obtaining protonitazene and metonitazene from Jiangsu Bangdeya New Material Technology Co. LTD. (“Bangdeya”).

On October 22, 2022, Postal Inspectors seized a parcel addressed to “Will Catis.” This parcel was sent from Bangdeya. On October 28, 2022, a search warrant was obtained for the parcel. The search revealed a plastic bag of yellowish powder determined to be 172.3 grams of protonitazene.

On December 27, 2022, a search warrant was obtained for the Catis’ electronic media which was found to contain videos reflecting a kilogram press, firearms, and large sums of U.S. currency. Additionally, there were screenshots and photos reflecting Catis’ drug trafficking, including chats with Chinese chemical company sales representatives, bags filled with a powdery substance that were similar to the seized protonitazene, and screenshots of advertisements from Chinese chemical companies selling protonitazene.

After Catis’ arrest and pursuant to searches of his residence and storage unit, the following substances were discovered(1) 258.7 grams of a mixture of bromazolam, protonitazene, metonitazene, and fentanyl; (2) 1060.1 grams of a mixture of metonitazene, protonitazene, fentanyl, and lidocaine; (3) 4654 grams of a mixture of n-propylbutylone, eutylone, fentanyl, heroin, metonitazene, protonitazene, p-fluorofentanyl, lidocaine, quinine, and caffeine; (3) 726.5 grams of 3,4-Methylenedioxy-α-cyclohexylaminopropiophenone; (4) 3.45 grams of protonitazene; (5) 28.77 grams of a mixture of protonitazene and cocaine; (6) 361.9 grams of a mixture N-Ethylpentylone, eutylone, metonitazene, protonitazene, fentanyl, heroin, α-Pyrrolidino-2-phenylacetophenone, p-Fluorofentanyl, quinine, lidocaine, and caffeine; (7) 1389.6 grams of a mixture of N-Ethylpentylone, metonitazene, eutylone, heroin, α-Pyrrolidino-2-phenylacetophenone, ANPP, quinine, caffeine, and lidocaine; (8) 571.6 grams of protonitazene; (9) 27.8 grams of metonitazene; (10) 28 grams of protonitazene; (11) 448.4 grams of bromazolam; and (12) 176 grams of a mixture of N-Propylbutylone, eutylone, metonitazene, fentanyl, protonitazene, bromazolam, heroin, lidocaine, quinine, and caffeine.

Catis’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 11, 2024, at noon. He faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the DEA, Miami Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Miami Field Office.

DEA Miami Field Division Counternarcotic Cyber Investigations Task Force, HSI Miami, USPIS-Miami, and IRS-CI Miami, Miami Field Office investigated this case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case as well as handling asset forfeiture. More information about this case can be found at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov .

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

If you are aware of controlled substance violations in your community, please submit your anonymous tip through the DEA online Tip Line at Submit a Tip | DEA.gov.  Concerns about prescription drug abuse or diversion can be reported to the DEA through this link: RX Abuse Online Reporting (usdoj.gov).

The DEA encourages parents, teachers, care givers, guardians, and children to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com , www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com, www.CampusDrugPrevention.gov, and www.dea.gov.

Follow DEA Miami via Twitter at @DEAMIAMIDIV.